Posts Tagged ‘dry skin’

Many people these days have different skin conditions to treat, however differentiating and understanding each condition is not always easy. Psoriasis is a major skin condition that affects an estimated 7.5 million Americans according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Having any skin condition is not only uncomfortable but very stressful.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. There are 5 different types of psoriasis listed as: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular & erythrodermic. The most common form of psoriasis is plaque. The usual symptoms of this type Psoriasis are usually raised red patches or lesions which are covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells. This condition can appear anywhere on the body, but is not contagious.

Prevention is a major aspect of treatment. Psoriasis triggers can be different for each individual however, there are some more common or known triggers. The first known trigger is stress. Stress can actually activate a first time flare up or aggravate an existing condition. The second known trigger is injury to the skin. For example: vaccinations, sunburns and even scratches on the skin can trigger a reaction. Medication can also be a big trigger and can easily be disregarded when contemplating trigger factors. Some of the many different medications that have been found to trigger a reaction are: Lithium, Antimalarials, Inderal, Quinidine and Indomethacin.

Other known triggers such as weather, diet, and allergies can play a big role in a Psoriasis flare up. Although there is no known cure for psoriasis, there are ways to alleviate symptoms.

Treatments will generally consist of topical or internal solutions. As the severity of each case and treatment options will vary from one person to the next, it is recommended that each individual consults with a licensed physician for professional opinion before use of any product.

It is also important to understand that many times an individual will go through various products before they find one that best suits them. You can find products on our site ranging from cleansers to shampoo and even body products. Some of those include Therapeutics Psorent Topical by Neostrata and Plasmalg Marine Gel by Thalgo. We hope after this read you’ll understand this condition better. We also want you to know we are always here to help and wish you all the best on the road to healing!

You gave the feedback and Obagi listened! They now have a wonderful new moisturizer for all skin types to really complete the Obagi line. The Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer is formulated to provide long lasting hydration protection for up to 8 hours. It contains Hydromanil, which is an advanced ingredient that retains water and gradually delivers moisture to the skin. It can be used morning and night, and will become a must have product for those who are on the Obagi Nu-Derm system and may be experiencing any dry or flaky skin. Even though the product is super hydrating, it is hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic so it will not clog pores and works especially well for those with sensitive or irritated skin types.

Our hands are something we tend to forget about treating, even though we use them for everything we do! During the winter months, they can get cracked and extremely dry. To combat this issue I recommend using L’Occitane Shea Butter One Minute Hand Scrub two to three times a week to keep hands well exfoliated and help products better penetrate the skin. Follow up by moisturizing up to 6 times a day to keep hands from cracking in the winter months. I recommend using L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, it will help protect, nourish and moisturize your hands.

Your hands also age quicker than your face. To keep your hands looking as young as you are, always remember to treat your hands with the same great products you use on your face, neck and décolleté and as always don’t forget the SPF!

Do you have sensitive skin and find it hard to find a good moisturizer? Well rest assured, ATOPALM is here. Their Intensive Moisturizing Cream is not only great as a facial cream; you can use it for your body as well. It’s a unique, paraben-free cream for dry and sensitive skin that helps to restore the skins’ protective moisture barrier, leading to softer and healthier skin.

Finally! A facial cream has been made for sensitive and dry skin that aids in restoring the natural lipids from your skin barrier which are depleted by harsh skin treatments, making it perfect for use after microdermabrasion. Intensive Moisturizing Cream leaves the skin feeling soft and supple. Don’t just take my word for it. Try it for yourself and you’ll see that ATOPALM Intensive Moisturizing Cream is one of the best 2 in 1 creams for sensitive and dry skin.

We talk to a lot of customers this time of year who often have the same skin concerns. “My skin feels so dry!” Sound familiar? This is really common, especially in the cooler winter months.

First thing’s first! We always check to make sure you’re using a moisturizer. If not, that would be the first plan of attack. However, since most of our customers are on top of things, lets move on to plan B. More than likely if you speak to one of our estheticians they will recommend a type of hydrating serum that you would apply underneath your moisturizer. One of the most popular hydrating serums is SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel. If you prefer a natural line, ARCONA Magic White Ice is a great choice.

Finally, we would recommend a hydrating mask. Masks are a nice bonus to add extra hydration to the skin. You can use them on your face, or other dry parts of your body! Try the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque or the L’Occitane Immortelle Face Cream Mask. Please be advised some masks can be used daily, or others may instruct you to use them 1-2 times a week. As always, please follow the manufacturers directions.

There really is no limit on moisturizer. If you feel you need more, go for it, especially those of you who use a 2-in-1 moisturizer/SPF combo. It’s a good idea to freshen up SPF applications during the day. Your skin will thank you for it!

We’re always excited to offer natural product lines at SkinStore.com. Amongst our favorites is Juara Skincare. Founded by four unique, modern women, Juara brings different cultures and worlds together offering a new spin on skincare. Juara has been shaped by Eastern and Western influences.

From body and hand lotions and creams, body scrubs, cleansers, masks, soaps, gels and oils, Juara Skincare has so much to offer. We’re fans of the intoxicating candlenut scent many of their products contain.

Being a natural product line, Juara is 100% vegetarian and no animal testing is ever conducted. Juara products are paraben-free and contain no artificial colorants, sulfates, or pthalates. Common ingredients in Juara products include: avocado, banana, candlenut, cinnamon, coffee, ginger, milk, rice, sandalwood, tamarind, and sweet black tea. All of these ingredients have unique purposes and benefits for the skin.

Regardless of your skin type or skin concern, Juara products are available to help! Whether you have sun damaged or aging skin, breakouts, sensitive skin, rough skin or are just looking to take preventative measures for your skin, there is a suitable Juara product for you.

Irritation, Injury and skin conditions occur in our everyday lives. When the unexpected happens, Avene Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream is there to help! This technologically advanced cream helps speed the recovery process by maintaining an optimal healing environment for the skin and prevents signs or scarring. It is used for many general skin problems such as burns, cuts, cracked skin, peri-oral dermatitis, mild eczema, diaper rash and for post procedure skin such as peels, episiotomy, vascular laser, and hair removal. Not only does it help for a speedy recovery, but it contains 45% of Avene’s very popular Thermal Spring Water to soothe and soften your skin.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis, also known as seborrhea, is a common skin disorder that effects 3-5% of the population. It is found mainly on the scalp and face in scaly, itchy, red skin patches. The patches of skin can appear thick, and either yellow or red in color, and sometimes these patches can look shiny. Seborrhea commonly appears on the upper chest and back or other areas of the body that contain more sebaceous glands. Babies can also suffer from this condition and is typically known as cradle cap, which will usually clear up by their first birthday. While this skin condition is non-contagious, the people who suffer often will find it difficult to treat.

The causes of seborrhoeic dermatitis are not yet known by doctors but there are key factors that may play a role in its origin. There is natural occurring yeast called malassezia that grows in sebum, an overabundance of malassezia can cause flare-ups and inflammation. Also a change in season can be a trigger to a flareup, so seborrhea is usually more prevalent in the winter time. Seborrhoeic dermatitis has also been linked to people who have neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, and in people who are stressed and fatigued would be at greater risk. It seems to also be related to hormones and genetics, but doctors are not sure why.

Treatments for seborrhoeic dermatitis includes creams and lotions as well as medicated shampoos for the scalp. In some severe cases a doctor can prescribe an oral or topical medication to help reduce symptoms, because usually an antifungal product will help keep the flareups at bay. If you have seborrhoeic dermatitis on your scalp, an anti-fungal shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, coal tar, zinc pyrithione, or salicylic acid can be effective (we recommend Philip B Anti-Flake Relief Shampoo). Even over the counter shampoos and products should be used as directed or as a physician prescribes. Alternative methods for helping symptoms include the use of phototherapy which uses LED lights to inhibit the growth of malassezia which can reduce inflammation. Also the use of natural ingredients such as aloe, coconut oil and tea tree oil have helped certain people.

People who have seborrhoeic dermatitis sometimes think they just have dry skin or dandruff because their skin or scalp is flaky and itchy. Dandruff is considered the less inflammatory form of seborrhoeic dermatitis. If people do not know the specific skin condition they are dealing with, this can cause people to use products that are too heavy and are greasy on the skin which can aggravate the condition. A doctor would be able to determine the best course of action for you to ensure you are getting the care you need.

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There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic, however plaque psoriasis is the most common form. While most people may think it is a skin condition, it is actually an immune system deficiency. The immune system protects the body from infections and diseases. In patients with plaque psoriasis, certain immune cells are activated and produce too much of a protein called tumor necrosis factor (a.k.a TNF), it’s protein produced by the body in response to infections. This protein can cause skin cells to grow too quickly. In turn, the skin cells build up and form raised, red patches often with silvery scales, known as plaques. Plaques can be painful, itchy and in some cases can even bleed. They can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp and back. Although this is a disease of the immune system, there are certain factors that may trigger psoriasis such as:

Guttate Psoriasis: This form of psoriasis appears as small, red, individual spots on the skin. Guttate lesions usually appear on the trunk and limbs. These spots are not usually as thick as plaque lesions.

Inverse Psoriasis: Is found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and in other skin folds around the genitals and the buttocks. This type of psoriasis appears as bright-red lesions that are smooth and shiny. Inverse psoriasis is subject to irritation from rubbing and sweating because of its location in skin folds and tender areas.

Pustular Psoriasis: is characterized by white blisters of noninfectious pus (consisting of white blood cells) surrounded by red skin. There are three types of pustular psoriasis. It may be localized to certain areas of the body, such as the hands and feet, or covering most of the body. It begins with the reddening of the skin followed by formation of pustules and scaling.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis: is a particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that affects most of the body surface. It is characterized by periodic, widespread, fiery redness of the skin and the shedding of scales in sheets, rather than smaller flakes. The reddening and shedding of the skin are often accompanied by severe itching and pain, heart rate increase, and fluctuating body temperature. People experiencing the symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis flare should see a doctor immediately.

If you have any of these signs or symptoms we recommend contacting your physician for best treatment recommendations. There are many oral drugs that can be prescribed by a physician to treat psoriasis. If prescriptions fail or you would like to steer clear of unwanted side effects, there are also more natural remedies like herbs, vitamins, sunlight, and ocean water. Some of the ingredients known to help are aloe vera, fish oil, Vitamin D, dead sea salts and cayenne.

While there is no cure for psoriasis, there is hope in topical and systemic medications. Topically, some effective ingredients are; salicylic acid, coal-tar ointments, and retinoids. Skinstore.com carries a variety of products that can help. Neostrata Therapeutics Psorent Topical is clinically-proven solution designed to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis such as itching, scaling, flaking, redness and irritation. Avene Professional Akerat S Psoriasis Skin Cream is recommended for localized rough, thick and scaly areas on the scalp and body. This body product helps relieve and prevent the recurrence of itching, flaking and scaling. PCA SKIN Dry Skin Relief Bar is a mild facial bar suitable for all types of dry skin conditions particularly psoriasis and eczema. Tarsum Shampoo/Gel from Summers is a therapeutic scalp product. For a relaxing and calming treatment try one of the Ahava Mineral Bath Salts. No other natural substance contains a greater concentration of skin rejuvenating minerals than 100% pure Dead Sea salt crystals.

What is Eczema? Eczema is a red, inflamed and irritated patch of skin. It is an inherited condition that can flare up and subside due to a few different factors. It is often accompanied by asthma or hay fever. The cause of eczema is unknown, but many medical professionals believe that it may be related to a deficiency in the body’s immune system. Eczema appears as thickened, cracked or scaly skin. It can affect any area of the body, but is typically found on the arms and legs. Many individuals also suffer from Eczema on the scalp.

There is no cure for Eczema, but there are a few things you can do to help ease discomfort of flare ups or lessen how often you experience flare ups.

Avoid Environmental Triggers
Rapid changes in body temperature (this usually occurs when we are stressed) can cause skin to become inflamed and irritated. Avoid detergents, harsh soaps and fragrances, as well as wool fabric products, as they can aggravate the skin. If you suffer from scalp Eczema avoid hair care products which contain sulfates.

Choose products designed for sensitive skin
Avoid skin care products that contain perfumes, dyes, and harsh detergents. Look for products designed to calm and soothe the skin and are intended for those with sensitive skin.

Keep skin hydrated
Keeping skin moisturized can avoid flare ups. Choose heavier lotions and creams designed for dry to very dry skin conditions. Moisturizers like ATOPALM Intensive Moisturizing Cream help to boost the skin’s barrier function while protecting it from environmental stresses.

Eczema is often confused with other skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis, so it’s always best to consult a dermatologist, physician, or immunologist to determine your skin condition and best treatments available.